College Football Predictions 2011: 10 Overrated Teams in the Top 25
College Football perhaps has the most parity out of any major sport.
Only in college could James Madison upset Virginia Tech, or Appalachian State defeat Michigan.
There are 120 schools in the FBS, six major conferences, and many talented players.
Obviously you can't play every school in the country, and as such who you play is almost as important as how well you play.
For reasons such as these, there always seem to be teams that under perform or over perform in college.
Here are ten highly ranked teams that could slip up next season.
1. Florida State Seminoles
1 of 10
The Noles shot up the rankings after landing the number one recruiting class in the nation, but it will likely take time for this young team to mesh together.
The loss of QB and team leader Christian Ponder is a setback too tall for this team to overcome- at least in a year's time.
This team has a bright future under Jimbo Fisher, but there will be learning curves to go through with such a young team this season.
In a weak conference, winning the ACC is possible, but FSU is not a top ten team going into the season as some experts predict.
2. Stanford Cardinal
2 of 10
The Cardinal have the best player in the country in QB Andrew Luck, but it's everything else they don't have that is worrysome.
Three starting offensive lineman are gone, and their replacements need to give Luck time in the pocket. Seven defensive starters are gone as well, including standout LB/FB Owen Marecic.
Jim Harbaugh also bolted for the NFL, probably the teams biggest loss. Offensive Coordinator Brian Shaw was promoted to head coach, so the system will stay in place, but if Shaw is not the motivator Harbaughwas, this team will likely fail to meet preseason expectations.
3. TCU Horned Frogs
3 of 10
The Frogs always have a great defense under coach Patterson, but it's the offense that has question marks going into the 2011 season.
Both starting receivers are gone, as is QB Andy Dalton, TCU's all time leader in wins as a starter.
Dalton was 42-7 in his career at TCU, and 25-1 over the past two seasons.
Replacing him will be very difficult. To live up to preseason expectations and play in another BCS bowl game, TCU will gave to go undefeated again.
With the loss of Dalton, that just won't happen.
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4. Michigan State Spartans
4 of 10
MSU is worthy of a high preseason after last season's result, starting out 8-0 and finishing 11-2.
MSU also has many key players returning, including QB Kirk Cousins and RB Edwin Baker.
But MSU clearly exceeded expectations last season, and now with a target on their backs, a drop-off is likely.
The team's bowl game against Alabama showed this team has weaknesses, and their 11 win season was probably due to an easy schedule ( and the infamous fake field goal call against Notre Dame).
MSU did not have to play the Buckeyes last season, and played eventual Big Ten Champion Wisconsin at home.
With road games at OSU, Notre Dame, and Iowa next season, expect MSU to fall back to earth after a great season last year.
5. Florida Gators
5 of 10
The talent is certainly there, but there are too many new faces on this team.
New head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will have their work cut out for them trying to fix a offense that was 88th in the nation at passing.
Too many questions linger over this team.
Who will start at QB- senior John Brantley or heralded freshman Jeff Driskel? Is this a passing team or rushing team? And what happened with the defense last season?
Expect this to be a rebuilding year for the Gators.
6. Virginia Tech Hokies
6 of 10
The team will have to replace longtime QB Tyrod Taylor and both starting RB's.
That alone is reason to be concerned about Va Tech's 2011 season outlook.
Frank Beamer has built a power in Blacksburg, but the team has underperformed in recent seasons.
Tech is 1-26 all time against top five teams, including two losses last year- against Stanford in the Orange Bowl and against Boise State to open the season.
Overall, Beamer is just 8-10 in bowl games.
Virginia Tech has been an overrated program for a while, and that trend will continue this season
7. Wisconsin Badgers
7 of 10
The Badgers are a tough, physical team that will be a tough out for anyone this season, but another Big Ten Championship is out of the question.
Two probable NFL first round picks, OT Gabe Carimi and DE J.J. Watt, will have to be replaced, along with QB Scott Tolzien, who did not garner a lot of national attention, but completed seventy percent of his passes last season.
They also play road games at OSU and MSU next season, who finished tied with them atop the Big Ten Standings.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
8 of 10
No disrespect to the Irish, but their schedule is just to tough for them to live up to preseason hopes of playing in a BCS bowl.
The Irish play nine teams that were bowl eligible last season, plus USC, who would have made it but didn't because of NCAA infractions.
The offense also has questions. Besides WR Michael Floyd, there are no true playmakers. TE Kyle Rudolph left for the NFL draft, and WR Steven Ridley is talented, but was hurt and just made the switch from RB to WR last season.
It's also unknown whether QB Dayne Crist will be able to return from offseason knee surgery.
The offensive issues, along with the tough schedule, will result in another tough year for the Irish.
9. Auburn Tigers
9 of 10
Auburn deserves to be ranked nationally preseason coming off a national title, but this team might not even be bowl eligible next season.
They have just lost to much.
You have to start the list with All-American QB Cam Newton and DT Nick Fairley, but Auburn also lost four starting offensive lineman.
That will especially hurt this team that likes to run the ball and will have a new QB behind center.
Auburn had to outscore a lot of teams last season, and were able to do it with Newton. But their defense will not be able to hold up without him.
Returning to a bowl game is a good goal for this team to have next season.
10. Texas Longhorns
10 of 10
Like Florida, the talent is there, but it's unlikely it will all come together for Texas this season.
The team did not even make a bowl game last year, so to be ranked preseason speaks of the respect college football has for Mack Brown.
Adding number one RB recruit Malcolm Brown will hopefully give the Longhorns the every down back they have been missing since the days of Ricky Williams or Cedric Benson, but there are still issues at the QB position.
Garret Gilbert showed flashes in the National Championship game against Alabama two years ago, but was very inconsistent in his first season as a starter.
Until the Longhorns get QB play the likes of Vince Young or Colt McCoy, they will continue to struggle.
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